A criminal case has been opened in Kamchatka on illegal deforestation, which caused major damage to the nature of the region. Employees of the Yelizovsky district criminal investigation department have identified the suspect in the destruction of almost three dozen valuable trees. He turned out to be a 49-year-old unemployed resident of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, who now faces serious punishment.
According to the investigation, the crime was committed in mid-June 2025 on the territory of the Paratunsky district forestry— a popular recreational area in Kamchatka. Within a few days, the man, without any permits, cut down 29 stone birch trees. This species, characteristic of Kamchatka forests, is distinguished by its durable wood and plays an important role in the local ecosystem. The total volume of illegally harvested wood exceeded 29 cubic meters.
The actions of the “black lumberjack” caused significant financial damage to the forest fund of the region. Experts from the Ministry of Forestry and Hunting of the Kamchatka Territory estimated the damage in excess of 355 thousand rubles. This figure reflects not only the cost of the wood itself, but also the environmental damage caused to the forest area, which will take decades to restore.
On the fact of the incident, the investigative department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia in the Yelizovsky district opened a criminal case under part 3 of Article 260 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation “Illegal logging of forest plantations.” This part of the article applies in cases where the act was committed on a particularly large scale, and provides for the most severe punishment. If proven guilty, the suspect may face imprisonment for up to seven years with a fine.
At the moment, a preventive measure has been chosen for the person involved in the case in the form of a subscription not to leave and proper behavior, which obliges him not to leave his place of residence without the permission of the investigator and to appear on summons. The investigation is ongoing, and law enforcement agencies will have to clarify all the circumstances of the crime, including possible motives and sales channels for illegally harvested timber.